Management Methodology for Enterprise Systems Implementations

Enterprise Systems, also known as Enterprise Resources Planning Systems, is a relatively new type of Information System that integrates business processes such as finance and logistics into one system through implementation projects. The implementation strategy of these systems is mainly based on the design and migration of modules that include grouped business processes in separate projects over time.

Generally speaking, organizations use methodologies especially for the design of the software to accomplish a successful implementation of Information Systems. However, besides commercial efforts, there is no applied methodology for Enterprise Systems implementations. In addition, management failures occur widely in the current situation, resulting in dramatic project overruns for timelines and budgets. The research objective of this study is to design a management methodology for a successful design & configuration of Enterprise Systems.

A methodological management route is designed with a clear metaphor as a road map from a “non-experience” situation. This map contains indicators to drive the implementation of the normal route. It also offers the option to a more normal route, with clear points to get back on track to ensure a better result. The author has extensive experience in the field as head of maintenance planning with a workforce of more than 150 people. For the past 15 years he has been working as senior policy officer for a large government agency in different national and international positions, mainly relating to information systems.